The Spanish football championship is once again confronted with the scourge of racism in its stadiums, after the new insults uttered on Sunday May 21 in Valencia against the Brazilian striker of Real Madrid Vinicius, which aroused a wave of indignation in the middle. football and beyond.
In Valencia, during the defeat of Real (1-0), the merengue striker, regularly targeted, indeed complained of having been described as ” monkey by opposing supporters.
” It was not the first time, nor the second nor the third. Racism is normal in La Liga “, reacted on Instagram Vinicius, excluded at the end of the meeting after a scuffle which saw his opponent escape a similar sanction.
“The Federation is appalled by what happened”
The Brazilian, whose puppet bearing his likeness was also hung from a bridge by Atletico Madrid supporters in January, claimed ” actions, sanctions “. The placid coach of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, came out of his hinges at a press conference, believing that the Spanish championship had ” a problem with racism “.
“ The Federation is appalled by what happened. These attitudes must be eradicated “, reacted in the night the Spanish federation, competent for these problems via its “Comité de Competición” which is equivalent to the French disciplinary commission.
” Before criticizing and insulting La Liga, it would be necessary for you to inform yourself properly “Said La Liga boss Javier Tebas, refuting any inaction on his part. This one, which highlighted its “ reactivity In a press release, assured to have transmitted nine complaints this season for incidents suffered by Vinicius, of which only one led to a sanction (Valladolid mid-December). She undertook to transmit to justice the result of her investigation if a new hate crime was proven. Insufficient, nevertheless judged Ancelotti. ” What happened so far? Reports that came to nothing (…). The solution is to stop the game. »
Besides the Italian, support poured in from all over the world. Starting with Brazil, where the president of the federation Ednaldo Rodrigues assured on social networks that Vinicius had ” the love of all Brazilians “. ” New episode of racism in La Liga and once again Vini is the victim “, also lamented Ronaldo, the legend of the Seleçao.
” You’re not alone. We are with you and support you”
At a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan, President Luis Inazio Lula da Silva also denounced the ” racism suffered by Vinicius. “ They called him a monkey. It is not possible, in the middle of the 21st century, to have such strong racial prejudices in so many football stadiums “, he added. Local music icon Gilberto Gil quickly followed suit. Outside the country, PSG star Kylian Mbappé has also taken a stand. ” You’re not alone. We are with you and support you “, he wrote in English on Instagram. “ I saw pain, disgust. We have to help him “, supported the former England international Rio Ferdinand.
The Valencia club, host of the incident, assured in a press release that they ” publicly condemned any kind of insult, attack », and that he « would take the harshest measures “, however evoking a “ isolated act “.
” Racism has no place in football or society “, for his part, claimed the boss of Fifa, Gianni Infantino, recalling the existence of a specific procedure. “ First, we stop the match and make an announcement. Then the players leave the lawn and the suspension of the match is announced if the attacks start again. The game resumes and if the attacks resume, (…) the three points go to the opponent “. ” These rules should be introduced in each league, in each country “, he underlined.
Awakening bad memories for Spanish football
The racist insults uttered by the public at the Valencia stadium against Vinicius have awakened bad memories for Spanish football, splashed by several similar cases over the past 40 years targeting, for example, Samuel Eto’o. The five years spent by Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o at FC Barcelona (2004-2009) are punctuated by racist incidents, such as when the striker threw the ball towards the public of Getafe in 2004 after being the victim of monkey cries . Two weeks later, against Albacete, Eto’o is again the victim of racist insults.
In 2005, the Cameroonian striker celebrates a goal by parodying a monkey. And in 2006, victim of racist insults in Zaragoza, Eto’o decided to leave the field as he was about to take a corner. ” No game mas! » (« I do not play anymore ! “), he says to the referee, who tries to convince him to answer by staying on the ground. After the intervention of several people on the lawn, Eto’o retraced his steps and the match ended. A few days later, the Spanish federation sanctions the Real Zaragoza club with a fine of 9,000 euros.
Other examples. In March 2005, Real Madrid’s Brazilian striker Ronaldo threw a bottle of water in the direction of the stands in Malaga after being the victim of racist insults. A few days earlier, in this same stadium, the Costa Rican striker from Malaga Paulo Cesar Wanchope had hit a supporter of his club who had uttered monkey cries.
Real Madrid announced on Monday May 22 that it had filed a complaint with the Spanish public prosecutor’s office. The Valencia public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation.
(With AFP)